Toy hand grenade



July 7, 1964 c, w MlER 3,139,697

TOY HAND GRENADE Filed NOV. 1, 1962 4\ 39 I Fm, 1

CH ENSTOPHER Ml ER INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,139,697 TOY HAND GRENADE Christopher W. Mier, 447 Norway Ave., Trenton, NJ. Filed Nov. 1, 1962, Ser. No. 234,742 3 Claims. (Cl. 46-17) This invention relates. generally to toys; More particularly, the invention relates to a toy simulating a hand grenade.

Summarized briefly, the invention has reference to a toy hand grenade closely resembling, in external configuration and size, a true grenade. Internally, the grenade is designed to include a detonating mechanism characterized by its adaptability to produce a loud. report accompanied by a smoke-simulating cloud, upon impact of the grenade against the ground surface when thrown. At the same time, the grenade is designed to break into a plurality of jaggedly edged sections, in the manner of a fragmentation grenade, to add still furtherto the faithful simulation of a true hand grenade.

The construction which I have devised to accomplish these results. includes a sectionally constituted body the several portions. of which are releasably interengaged with one another in a manner to break apart on impact.

In one section, a spring-loaded arm is latched in a triggered position by a pin engaged between at least two of the body sections to hold the entire device together until it is ready for use. When the pin is pulled, the trigger or arm is free to swing to its detonating position, but for the restraintimposed thereupon by an abutment in asection adjacent that upon which the arm is mounted.

On the same section as that on which the arm is mounted,. I provide a cartridge containing talcunrpowder or the like. A spring-urged plunger sliding in the cartridge has a. head on which is a cap or other small powder charge. When the arm is released for swinging movement, responsive to impact against the ground, it strikes the plunger, detonating the cap while simultaneously forcing the plunger inwardly to expel a quantity of the smoke-simulating powder.

One. important object of the present invention is to provide a toy as briefly described above that will simul'ate closely, in appearance and in function, a true grenade, thus to impart a high degree of enjoyment and attractiveness to boys using the same.

Another object is to permitre-use of the toy an indefinite number of times, despite its adaptability to break into pieces on impact.

A further object is to include a novelmechanism within the device that will be securely latched in an inoperative but triggered condition by a removable pin in the same manner as a true hand grenade.

A. further object is to make the mechanism respond accurately in every instance to fragmentation'of the toy upon impact.

Still another object is to provide a toy hand grenade that will be. comparatively inexpensive, considering the close resemblance thereof, both in appearance and in operating characteristics, to a true hand grenade.

Other objects will appear from the following'description, the claims appended thereto, and. fromthe annexed drawings, in. which like reference characters designate like partsthroughout the severalviews, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a grenade constructed according to the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal sectional view therethrough; and

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view.

Referring to the drawing in detail, in the illustrated, preferred embodiment of the invention, the grenade includes three releasably interlocked body sections 10,

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12, 14. Body sections 10, 12, are identically but oppositely formed and arranged as side sections extending from one end of the grenade to. a locationpast the mid point thereof. The section 14 comprises: an end section extending the remainder of the length of the device.

Approximately semiacylindrical sections 1.0, 12, 14 are preferably formed of a moldable, strong resilient material having high. impact. strength. and as shown, are so shaped. as to define a generally elliptical shell having intersecting. circumferential and longitudinal grooves, thus simulating faithfully a typical. fragmentation grenade.

As shown to best advantage in FIGURE 1, the sections 10, 12 have a first series of interlocking teeth 16 along their respective side edges. At theirfront ends, sections 10, 12 have a second series of teeth 18 mating with complementary teeth provided on the rear end edge of the cup-shaped nose. or end section.14. The section 14 at its closed front end has an opening in which is swivelly mounted a conventional snap clasp 20 designed for suspending the device from ones belt while it is awaiting: use. i

In accordance withthe invention, I providewithin the shell an arm or hammer'22 having at one end. a sleeve 24.1oosely receiving. a post 25 integrally or. otherwise connected to the inner surface of the section 14 adjacent the juncture of the three sections. A torsion spring 26 has one end 28 extendedas afinger lockingly engagedin a small: recess. 30 provided in the inner surface of the section. 10. Spring 26 receives the post. 25, and at its other end, has an. elongated, hook-like longitudinal-extension or tang 32 bearing against arm 22 to resiliently, yieldably bias the same in one directioninto engagement, at the free end of the arm, Withan abutment 34 integrally formed on the inner surface of the nose section 14 (see FIGURE 2).

An elongated, straight safety or locking pin38- has'a loop 40 at one end disposed exteriorly of the shell 39 defined by the several sections. The pin 38' extends diametrically-across the inside of the shell, passing loosely through. an opening 41 of section 10, and. aperture 36 of arm 22. Section 12 has a bump 43 formed withan internal recessor socket 42 in WhiCh'iS received .theother end of the pin.

Molded on the inner surface of section10is a retaining cup 44 receiving a removable tube 46 having 'a forward end in which a stem 43 is axially slidable. Stem 48 has a flat, disc-shaped inner head 50. within the tube. Exteriorly of the tube, a compression,xcoilspring52 extends about the stem; abutting at one end against the tube and at its other end against an outer, flat',-discshaped head'54toresiliently, yieldably bias the stem-outwardly of the tube. On the head: 54there is adhesively mounted a small, explosive cap 56 of the type used in cap pistols. Within thetube is a. quantity of talcum powder 57, which may be of a tan or brown hues'o as to simulate smoke in a manner. to bedescribed hereinafter.

It is preferred to provide a weighting means of an adjustable nature-inthe device, so that when thrown, it will tend to fall with its weighted side'down to prevent damage to its mechanism and locate said mechanism for maximum efficiency whenthedevice is used. Tothis end, I provide a plurality of containers 58, 60 molded onor otherwise fixedly attached-to the inner surfaces of sections 12, 14-respectively, in a; rowextending along the side of the shell opposite the tube 46. Containers 58, 60 have filler openings closed by removable stoppers 62, and within the containers I provide sand or the like, notshown. I may use lead weights or other weighting means in place of the illustrated weight means.

In use of the device, the sections 10, 12 are connected, and the arm 22 is swung to its illustrated position against Patented July .7, 1.964

. 12. Thisv locates the abutment 34 in position holding the arm against swinging movement from its cocked position toward the head 54. 1

When the device is to be thrown, the user pulls the pin 38, so that the arm 22 is now restrained only by the abutment 34.

The device is now ready to be hurled. When it is thrown, and strikes the ground, the resilient sections tend to collapse momentarily against the inherent resiliency thereof, and fly apart in faithful simulation of'the fragmentation of a real grenade. This of course releases the arm 22 which is accordingly swung at high velocity, under the force of the spring 26, into engagement with the head 54, detonating the explosive cap 56 and forcing the stem 48 inwardly within tube 46.

The smoke-simultating powder is thus forced out of the tube 46 by the inward movement of head 50. For this purpose, there is a'small space surrounding the stem 48 at the nose end of the tube 46. A cloud of smoke is thus released seemingly simultaneously with the loud report caused by detonation of the cap 56.

1 All of this, as will be readily seen, provides an exceedingly faithful simulation of the appearance, operating characteristics, fragmentation, and detonation on impact of a true grenade.

The device is'resuable, by providing single-use refill tubes 46 each equipped with its piston stem and cap 56. Alternatively, I may provide a filler cap on a reusable tube to permit it to be refilled with a new supply of powder 57.

'It is believed apparent that the invention is not necessarily confined to the specific use or uses thereof described above, since it may be utilized for any purpose to which it may be suited. Nor is the invention to be necessarily limited to the specific construction illustrated and described, since such construction is only intended to be illustrative of the principles of operation and the means presently devised'to carry out said principles, it being considered that the invention comprehends any change in construction that may be permitted within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention, and'desire to protect by Letters Patent:

1. A toy hand grenade comprising:

- (a) a hollow shell including a plurality of normally joined body sections having connections opening on impact of the shell against a hard surface to separate the sections from one another;

(b) means in one of said sections for supporting a percussion cap;v

- (c). a hammer pivoted in said one section under spring load tending to bias the same to a cap-detonating position; and v (d) an'abutment rigid with a second section of said shell, I a

(1) said abutment engaging the hammer against movement to its cap-detonating position when f said sections are joined, (2) said abutment being moved clear of the hammer to free the same for'detonation of the cap in response to said separation of the sections. 2. A toy hand grenade comprising:

- (a) a hollow 'shell including a plurality of normally joined body sectionshaving connections opening on impact of the shell against a hard surface to separate the sections from one another; (b) means in one of said sections for supporting a percussion cap;

(c) a hammer pivotally connected at one end to said one section under spring load tending to bias'the hammer from a normally cocked position to a capdetonating position,

(1) said hammer having an aperture intermediate its opposite ends,

(2) said one section having an opening in line with said aperture in the cocked position of the hammer;

(d) a lock pin slidably, removably engaged in said opening and aperture to releasably latch the hammer against movement to the cap-detonating position; and (e) an abutment rigid with a second section of said shell,

(1) said abutment engaging the other end of the hammer when the sections are joined to hold the same in its cocked position,

(2) said abutment being moved clear of the hammer to free the same for bias to its cap-detonating position inresponse tosaid separation of the sections. 3. Atoy hand grenade comprising: a I (a) a hollow, generally elliptical shell externally configured to simulate a fragmentation grenade, said shell including; I j I (1) a pairvof elongated side sections forming one end and the major part of the length of the shell, said side sections having a first series of complementary, interlocking teeth along one end edge, and

(2) a nose section forming the remainder of the length and the other end of the shell, said nose section having a series of teeth mating with the second series of teeth of both of said side sections, the several teeth of the side and nose sections disengaging in response to impact of the shells against a hard surface to free the sections from one another;

([1) means in one of the side sections for supporting a percussion cap;

(c) a hammer pivotally connected at one end to said 7 (d) a lock pin slidably, removably engaged in said opening, aperture, and recess to releasably latch the hammer against movement to the cap-detonating position thereof; and i (e) an abutment rigid with said nose section,

(1) said abutment engaging the other end of the hammer when the sections are joined to hold the same in its cocked position, (2) said abutment being moved clear of the hammer to free the same for bias to its cap-detonating position in response to said separation of the sections.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,204,031 Kellogg Nov. 7, 1916 1,367,391 Hofer Feb. 1, 1921 2,345,173 Baggott Mar. 28, 1944 2,367,027 Jackman Jan. 9, 1945 2,523,087

Baggott Sept. 19, 1950 

1. A TOY HAND GRENADE COMPRISING: (A) A HOLLOW SHELL INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF NORMALLY JOINED BODY SECTIONS HAVING CONNECTIONS OPENING ON IMPACT OF THE SHELL AGAINST A HARD SURFACE TO SEPARATE THE SECTIONS FROM ONE ANOTHER; (B) MEANS IN ONE OF SAID SECTIONS FOR SUPPORTING A PERCUSSION CAP; (C) A HAMMER PIVOTED IN SAID ONE SECTION UNDER SPRING LOAD TENDING TO BIAS THE SAME TO A CAP-DETONATING POSITION; AND (D) AN ABUTMENT RIGID WITH A SECOND SECTION OF SAID SHELL, 